At a 2015 coronation event at Durand's historic Union Station, Harper Gross was among three girls vying for the Miss Railroad Days title. At that event, Tatianna Fraley was named Miss Railroad Days while Harper was handed the title of Attendant.

At the annual coronation event held Friday night, again, in the ballroom of Durand's historic Union Station, Harper's sister, Carly, was among three girls hoping for the Miss Railroad Days title. As the reigning attendant, it would be Harper's privilege to crown the 2016 Miss Railroad Days Attendant, and while Carly was presumably disappointed when Sophie Pawloski was crowned the 2016 Railroad Days Queen, there was something poetic about sitting in the audience and watching Harper, last year's attendant, crown her sister the 2016 attendant.

Having been at last year's coronation event as well, I can tell you, first-hand, both Harper and Carly received their honor with grace and distinction.

As Harper did throughout the past twelve months, Carly will represent Durand throughout mid-Michigan for the next twelve months.

It's also poetic that my daughter was among four girls last year that sought the Princess crown. You may recall that Madison did not win. But, the girl who was crowned 2015 Railroad Days Princess, Londyn Laviolette, became our neighbor when we moved into our new house last month, and the girls -- in fact, all three of our kids, along with Londyn and her sister -- are inseparable.